Cantona at Selhurt Park in 1995. Credit: Steve Morton/EMPICS Sport
THE CAPTAIN OF English non-league team Goole was sacked yesterday after confronting a heckling fan, with the incident coming 19 years to the day since Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick on a supporter.
Karl Colley, 30, was filmed angrily running into the stands to face down a supporter of opponents Coalville after being sent off in Goole’s 3-0 defeat at their Victoria Pleasure Grounds home in north-east England.
Video footage showed Colley making three attempts to tackle the fan and also appearing to throw a punch.
“Straight after the game he was sacked,” Goole secretary Andrew Morris told Britain’s Press Association.
This is one individual. I spoke to Coalville after the game and they said also it was one individual. This is a shame because we’re just a group of volunteers. It’s disgusting and embarrassing.”
A tweet on the Coalville website joked: “You’d of hoped Goole’s No 5′s punching was better than his footballing skills, unfortunately not #swingandmiss”.
Former Manchester United star Cantona was banned for nine months for his kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons after being red-carded at Selhurst Park in January 1995.
Watch the incident below:
YouTube credit: Lue Ginyard